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OPINION

Walker budget cuts make no sense

EDITOR: The governor's budget is rationalized on the idea that the state has a $2 billion shortfall which must be made up by cuts to programs. But how these cuts are realized is not as straightforward as is being presented.

My recollection is that state agencies were instructed last summer and fall to submit their biennial budget for 2015-2017 with the idea that they could anticipate a growth of about 2 percent. As a result, the governor received a request for about $70 billion. The late fall forecast for state revenues was below this, and closer to $68 billion. Hence, the state is facing a $2 billion deficit.

Rather than freezing state agencies at their 2013-2015 levels, which was, coincidentally, approximately $68 billion, or sending a request back to the agencies for them to determine how to best make these cuts, the governor rolled out a budget that calls for further cuts in health programs, the Department of Natural Resources, education at both the K-12 and university levels.

Let us be clear that how these cuts are made is a political choice. These cuts could easily be spread around all agencies equally or be maintained at 2013-2015 levels. Instead the governor has chosen to cut health care, education and environmental programs disproportionately. That means other areas are growing at the expense of our health care, education and environment. Those areas appear to be roads and transportation, which are currently booming.

The governor's proposed cuts make excellent political soundbites with his national funders, but they don't make sense for the people of Wisconsin.

Please contact your local representative to express your views. We have a say in how these cuts are allocated, and a voice, if we use it.